Once upon a time, a brave lost sailor washed up on my shore.
The ocean spat him out, leaving him worn and tired.
I took him into my home.
He was the only true man I’ve seen in centuries.
I concluded that it was best to have him stay with me forever.
I cared for him and loved him for 7 years.
I gave him paradise, yet he still longed for Penelope, Telemacus, and Ithaca.
He was unwilling to be my prisoner, my lover, and my Odysseus.
It did not matter what he wanted. I still kept him, till Hermes came.
Apparently Athena favored Odysseus too, but she did not love him as much as I did.
According to Hermes, Athena convinced Zeus that I was wrong and unfair to Odysseus.
That was unreasonable; of course Zeus would believe the goddess of wisdom!
No matter how much I complained to Hermes,
He was just a messenger and could not change a thing.
Either I let Odysseus go or else Zeus would punish me.
The amount of sadness I felt was larger than the universe.
My heart was broken.
The wildest fighter of the islands left me without hesitation.
The foolish man was willing to leave me.
I am immortal. I am forever beautiful.
Yet he did not accept my unrequited love.
In the end, I said farewell to the foolish sailor.
He was once my prisoner, but now in my heart, he will always be my sailor.